Wilsonville is no newbie to state championship games. Whether it be soccer, football, or basketball, the teams have dominated their leagues and all of 5A.

Fans gather to view the high school sports spectacle, and the crowds are especially large at state championships. These fans braved the cold November air to support their peers playing in their three-peat victory.

Junior Ellis Underhill described the game as “hard-driven” and “gritty.” Sophomore Bailey Van Meter described the energy in the stands as “hype” and “powerful.” Senior Avery Devencenzi described the game as “thrilling” and “tense.”

Senior Talia Valdez explains that within the fans, “[the student section was] exciting and energetic with a lot of cheering … Everyone was so invested and supportive.”

The Wildcat fans were clearly delighted that their team had won their third state championship. The fans sang the fight song loudly and proudly as a signal of their support after each goal and at the conclusion of the match.

During the State final, the defensive players of Wilsonville shone. The North Eugene offense had always relied solely on their offensive speed, but the Wildcats countered this strategy by controlling the pace of the game.

They frequently moved the ball out of bounds intentionally to stop the progression of play and effectively shut down the Highlander offense. This action not only slowed the momentum of their opponents, but also gave the team time to reset and take a break between intense periods of play.

Senior defender Campbell Lawler attributed the success of the team to their mental game. Lawler claims, “Our team mentality this year was the best I’ve seen in my four years of playing at Wilsonville.”

Senior defender Caroline de la Motte picked up that train of thought, claiming, “The state championship was a testament to all the resilience and passion we’ve put in during this season.”

Lawler and de la Motte are both four-year varsity players and have three years of experience playing in State Championships. It is possible that their freshman team would have won in the 2020 season as well if the pandemic hadn’t stifled athletic competition.

Regardless, these two players, and the whole Wildcat defense, were instrumental in the 3-peat victory of the Wildcat Girls Soccer team.

In this year’s state final, the midfielders of Wilsonville had the most physically taxing role. The middies played on both the offensive and defensive ends and were integral in the success of the team.

Senior midfielder Kenley Whittaker described the game plan for the final as “team defending,” which is a strategy in which the whole team would contribute to the defense against the Highlanders to “deny North Eugene opportunities and wear them down enough to allow us to create quality attacks,” as stated by Whittaker.

The Wildcats had an abundance of confidence entering the game. No other team in the state has as much experience on the Championship pitch as the Girls Soccer team. Tegan Waters is a junior and the only player to have won a state championship every year she has played for the program.

Water’s pre-game mentality was one of strength: “I was very confident, and it may seem arrogant to say, but I knew we had already won.” Her confidence was warranted; no other team in 5A has the track record that Wilsonville can boast.

In the words of Coach Alex Boehm, the team did “little things to create BIG moments,” and the midfield deserves accolades for their impressive commitment to doing the little things.

It is no secret that Wilsonville has an explosive offense. Over the course of the season, the Wildcats scored 75 goals, averaging 4.1 goals per match.

In the Championship, the Wildcat’s speed of offense allowed them to score on two fast-paced drives that culminated in Whittaker-Schaan connections. These offensive connections are what contributed to the clean attacks that gave the Wildcats the commanding lead on the scoreboard.

The first goal was scored off of a throw-in play, starting with Shea Moomaw and then moving to Brianna Crane, who, according to Whittaker, “skillfully flicked the ball down the line to [Camryn Schaan].” Crane is well known for her skillful aggression and passion for the game.

Crane’s adoration of the game was magnified in this state championship match, explaining, “Winning my third state championship meant the most to me because I proved myself in what I was able to do after a huge injury.”

Schaan was another impact player in the championship match. She, like Whittaker, also had one assist and one goal in the game. Schaan was the Player of the Game in the state championship last year as a freshman.

This year Schaan earned her second ring in her two years on the team, and she’s not done yet. Schaan affirms, “I’m ready to win two more.”